Roky Erickson
Don't Slander Me

THE REVIEW

Roky Erickson: A Buddy Holly from Mars!
Finally, Don't Slander Me, the legendary album by Roky Erickson that had been out of print for ages, has been reissued!
Don't Slander Me is an album of extraordinary psychedelic rock'n'roll (in my opinion, the best ever created in its genre!). The explosive liveliness of Erickson's sounds and voice are things that don't belong to this world! It's no coincidence that it was during this period that Roky, just released from the criminal asylum, declared himself to be a Martian!
And if Martians make this kind of music, then they're much better than us Earthlings!

This album, in fact, contains some of the most beautiful rock songs ever written, songs like the overwhelming title track, the obsessive Haunt, and the psychedelic ballad Starry Eyes (all three will end up in what is currently Erickson's latest work, the poignant All May Do My Rhyme!), then there's also Nothing In Return, which is built entirely on a melody probably coming from another dimension, while Burn The Flames highlights the beauty of Erickson's voice, also venturing into an eerie satanic laugh... and what about the dynamism of Bermuda, a track that could even wake the dead, while Damn Thing... no, it's better not to say anything about that one!

Roky Erickson is a madman, that's clear, but also the whole world is mad, emotions and passions are, art and music, and Roky is perfectly aware of this; in fact, the word "Crazy" frequently appears in his compositions, such as in the Buddy Holly-esque You Drive Me Crazy or in the wild r'n'r of Crazy Crazy Mama, which he sings as if he were a Jerry Lee Lewis under the effect of LSD!
This album consumes me and drives me crazy, yes, I too am a madman because I believe what Roky Erickson declared. Roky Erickson is a Martian... yes, he's the Buddy Holly from Mars!